The parents of a Michigan teen who is accused of a fatal school shooting are asking a judge to lower their bond and release them from jail. James and Jennifer Crumbley have been locked up since Dec. 4, unable to come up with $500,000 each to be freed to await trial on involuntary manslaughter charges, the Associated Press reports. Lawyers said the Crumbleys are not a risk to the public and would wear electronic monitoring devices. Judge Cheryl Matthews hears arguments Tuesday on a request to lower bond to $100,000 each. Ethan Crumbley, who turns 16 next week, is charged with murder and other crimes. Four students were killed and more were injured during a Nov. 30 shooting at Oxford High School.
The parents are accused of failing to keep a gun secure at home and failing to reasonably care for their son when he showed signs of mental distress. “The Crumbleys were absolutely shocked parents who had no reason to foresee what would happen,” defense attorneys wrote. The Oakland County prosecutor’s office opposes a lower bond, noting that a similar request was denied by a judge in a lower court.